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Project : Rural Girl’s Education in Bihar

Bihar is one of the 29 states of India,It is the 13th-largest state of India, with an area of 94,163 km2 (36,357 sq mi). The third-largest state of India by population. Only 11.3% of the population of Bihar lives in urban areas. Additionally, almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, giving Bihar the highest proportion of young people of any Indian state. In ancient and classical India, Bihar was considered a centre of power, learning, and culture. Since the late 1970s, Bihar has lagged far behind other Indian states in terms of social and economic development

The girls come from very poor background where education is a privilege (meant for boys) and luxury that families can't afford. There are numerous obstacles --schools lack basic amenities, teachers are not regular, basic infrastructure is missing, transportation is poor, etc. Yet theses girls are driven by their enthusiasm to learn and to improve their lives.

The girls even do some crafts work to fund their tuition fee, school uniform, and study material.

Bhavishya is conducting workshop in this school with objective to provide creative fulfilment as a hobby, expression of art, create awareness about the culture and to provide tangible skills that can be developed further towards making a living through crafts.

Bhavishya is supporting the girls to help them realize their dream by

providing study material

organising craft training workshop

setup a computer centre and provide internet access to online study material so that these girls can realize their potential

I would like to share a particular project that we have started for the education of very poor rural school girls in a very remote part of Bihar (Bhithiharwa, off Narkatiyaganj in West Champaran).The school is basically run by a volunteer group of teachers (without any salary, without government affiliation or funding currently) on a piece of land granted to them as an aid. The classrooms are a few basic blocks of rooms with tin roofs. The school does not charge fees to the girls, and is surviving with great difficulty. Classes are from primary till Intermediate and the school has an arrangement with another school for Bihar Board exam. The girls are indeed a great example of courage and dreams in the face of challenges and adversities. They come from very poor background where education is a privilege (meant for boys) and luxury that families can't afford. There are numerous obstacles -schools lack basic amenities, teachers are not regular and voluntary, basic infrastructure is missing, transportation is poor, etc. Yet theses girls are driven by their enthusiasm to learn and to improve their lives.

Resources are one of the biggest obstacle for them currently. Few other NGOs provide some support by providing course books and uniforms intermittently. The girls even do some crafts work to fund their tuition fee, school uniform, and course books. But clearly, these are not enough.

Bhavishya has undertaken to support the girls and do its bit to help them their realize their dreams by: 1.Buy course books and provide to the school 2. Setup a computer centre (by purchasing second hand laptops) and provide internet access to online study material

3. Build and expand a library for the girls 4. organising craft training workshop, Bhavishya is conducting workshop in this school with objective to provide creative fulfilment as a hobby, expression of art, create awareness about the culture and to provide tangible skills that can be developed further towards making a living through crafts.

Going forward we have plan to conduct counselling of these girls and based on their interest and potential provide resources to be an empowered independent women.

I'd urge for your support in any manner possible. It could be through:contribute - voluntary monetary contribution to fund course books, computers/ laptops, crafts material, workshops;contribute - towards setting up scholarships for the most needy and meritorious girl students donate - books, functional computers/laptops, old uniforms, craft materialsvolunteer - meet the girls, physically if you happen to be near Bhithiharwa or online, provide counsellingvolunteer for charity events organized by Bhavishya in Germany -where profits or proceeds will be used to fund above requirements e.g. sale of craftsspread the word; participate in our events; any other way possible that I missed here.

Happy to share more details and speak in person if you are interested and want to be a part. Also, happy to have your inputs from our members.